Automatic vending-machine for postage-stamps and the like.



No. 864,025. PATBNTED AUG. 20, 1907.

0. OEHRING.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE. APPLIOATION FILED 11.23, 1900.

No. 864,025. T PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

o. OEHRING.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS A ND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1906;

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

, v 0. OEHRING,

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No; 864,025. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. 0. OEHRING.

AUTOMATIG VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23. 1900.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 864,025. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

u 0. OEHRING. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 190B.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No 864,025. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

0. OBHRING. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

a n 1 ea v 8 v 1 I? v G PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

.0. OBHRING. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

UNITED STATES P rENT OFFICE.

OSCAR OEHRING, EISLEBEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ABELSCHE BRIEFMARKEN-AUTOMATEN-VERTRIEBS-GESELLSCHAFT M. B. H., OF BERLIN,

GERMANY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Annlication filed March 23,1906. Serial No. 307,637.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR OEHRING, mechanician,

. a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Eisleben, Markt 23, in the Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Vending-Machine for Postage-Stamps and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to vending machines for material made up in strip or tape form, such as postage stamps, certificates and the like in which the material is fed to a cutting mechanism by a plurality of pushing and pulling feed devices thrown into operation by means of coin controlled mechanism.

It has been found that in devices of-this character, where stripsof perforated material are to be operated upon, the ordinary tape transporting device does not feed the strips with the'necessary accuracy for any length of time. For instance, where it is desired to operate upon a strip of postage stamps which is perforated at equal points throughout its entire length and which must therefore be fed a predetermined distance the inaccuracies will continuously increase becoming greater as the strip progresses in its movement. To overcome this inaccuracy. in feeding a push feed device consisting of a plurality of prongs or rakes was employed which were adapted to engage the perforations in the strip. This system was also found to have certain drawbacks in operating upon stamps and the like coated with hydroscopic material, it being impossible to properly feed the strips when the same became moist owing to atmospheric or other conditions.

In the present invention the above defects are eliminated by thecombinationof devices for pulling and pushing the strip of material forward simultaneously. The mechanism which pulls the strip forward constituting the main feeding action, while the push feeding mechanism regulates the extent of the feeding movement in the manner hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichi Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 id a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is'a side elevation, partly in section online AB of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the regulating mechanism arranged at one end of the apparatus, partly in section on thev line CD of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of the apparatus; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same partly in section through the slide-way for the stamps; Fig. 7 shows a further modification of the apparatus, in vertical section looking-from the left, the parts being in their position of rest and the exterior casing being removed. Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line II, of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a cross-section on line IIII of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 7, the upper part i 27 by means of a spring 37.

being removed; Fig. 11 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9, the parts being in their working position; Fig. 12 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 8, the parts being in their working position; Figs. 13 and 14 show the gears for the single devices in the position of rest according to Fig. 7.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the baseplate l of the apparatus has secured thereto a support 2 to which is secured the guide-way 3 for the stampstrip 3*. Below the guide-way 3 is a roller 4. The roller has its two trunnions 9 and 10 yieldingly mounted by means of springs 11, and 12 in two vertical slots 7 and 8 in supports 5 and 6. The free ends of the springs press against the trunnions 9 and 10 and tend to force the roller 4 upwardly and hold it in a recess 13 in the guide-way 3. Above the guide-way 3, and in the same vertical plane as the roller 4, is a feed roller 14 tinuously pressed by means of a spring 23, the lever being rotatably mounted in a support 22, which is secured on the base plate 1. To the lever 21 is rigidly connected a lever-arm 24, on the end of which the push feedipg device 25 for the stamps is mounted. As shown in Fig. 2, the push feeding device consists of a plurality of falling latches, prongs or rakes, which are arranged side byside and continuously pressed against theslide-way for the stamps by means of a spring 26.

guiding surfaces 28 and 29. Mounted on a lever 30 arrangetiabove the disk 27 is a. roller 31 which travels on the disk 27. The lever 30 oscillates on a shaft 34,

which is mounted in supports32 and 33. The other end of the lever 30 is connected with a cutting knife 36 by means of a link 35, and the roller 31 of the lever 30 is held in continuous engagement with the cam disk I In order to insure that the push feeding device 25 always comes into engagement with the perforations in the strip 3, the under surface of the guide-way 3 is provided with a longitudinal central elevation 38 (Fig. 4), so that the perforations in the strip lie free at the sides. By means of this peculiar formation of the guide-way 3, the possibility of the stamps sticking thereto is obviated.

The coin mechanismconsists of two disks 41 and 42 arranged on the shaft '17 .(Fig. 2). The disk 41 has two Onthe shaft 17 of the feed roller 14 is arranged another cam disk 27 having inclined peripheral peripheral slots 39 and 40, which are diametrically opposite to one another, and the disk 42 is provided with two pins 43, 44 pointing towards the disk 41 and arranged diametrically opposite to one another. The shaft 17 is operated by means of a handle 45 which, however, is not rigidly connected with the shaft but is coupled thereto when a coin drops down between the pins 43 and 44 of the disk 42 and enters the slot 39 or the slot 40 in the disk'4l.

The mode of operation of the apparatus is as follows: As the apparatus is actuated by turning the handle 45, the strip of stamps is, by means of the feed roller 14, brought into the position shown in Fig. 2, relatively to the cutting device. When the two disks 41 and 42 have been coupled together by a coin thereby connecting the handle 45 to the shaft .l7, the handle is rotated 180. By this operation, the lever 21 is first slowly forced downwardly by one of the inclined surfaces 19 or 20 of the cam-disk 18, thereby actuating the stamp feeding or regulating device 25, which brings the strip into a predetermined position, that is to say, it pushes the foremost stamp so far outwardly that the perforation between the foremost stamp and the next. succeeding stamp becomes located exactly beneath v the cutter of the cutting knife 36. On further turning,

the cam disk 27 elevates the lever 30 by means of the guiding surfaces 28 or 29, thereby closing the cutter, the stamp which has been previously adjusted is cut off. By the further turning of the shaft. 17, the projections 15 of the feed roller 14 come finally into en gagement with the strip 3* and force the strip against the roller 4 and again move the strips so that the suc ceeding stamp comes into a position from which it is subsequently brought into cutting position by the regulating device in the above-described manner. When the stamp has been severed the strip is again in the initial position and ready for the next feeding operation. If desired, several strips of stamps arranged side by side may be used instead of a single strip.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 14, an advantageous arrangement of the entire mechanism is provided whcrein two feeding devices for the strip .of stamps are arranged in one housing 57. The prongs 58 of one device are pivotally mounted on double armed levers 59 mounted on a shaft 60 and connected with one another by means of a transverse connecting piece 59 The rollers of the other feeding mechanism are arranged in pairs one above the other. The lower rollers 61 are mounted on shafts (52 which are rotatable in the housing 57, while the upper or pressing rollers 63 are yieldingly mounted in the upper part 65 of the lions ing 57, the part 65 being pivotally mounted at 64, that is to say, it is detachable. The periphery of the rollers 63 is roughened or milled, as is also the periphery of the rollers 61 with the exception of two flattened portions which are locatedopposite to each other, (Fig. 7). The strip of stamps 66 is wound from a roller 67 which is rotatably mounted in a. standard 68. From the roller 67, the strip (36 passes under a guide-roller 69 to the guide-way 70. The separated part drops into a receiver 71. Located in the housing 57 and between the two rollers (31 is the cutting device which consists of a plate 72 slidably mounted in the housing 57 and having its upper end provided with a knife blade 73 while its lower end carries a rotatable roller 74 on which an eccentric 75 acts in the manner hereinafter described. The eccentric is rigidly secured on a shaft 76 which is rotatably mounted in the housing. The plate 72 is provided with lateral projections 77, 78 which guide the movement of the vertical rods 79. The rods 79 are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 7 by springs 81 acting against an abutment 80. The two feeding devices and the cutting device are driven from the main shaft 82, the rotation of which is made dependent on the dropping of a coin in the well known manner. The coin mechanism which is not shown, may be of a type similar to that heretofore described or it may be of any other suitable form. The prong feeding device 58, 59, is driven directly from the main shaft 82 by means of an eccentric 83 which acts on a roller 84 mounted on the lower lever arm. Secured on the shaft 82 at one side of the housing 57 is a toothed wheel 85 the greater part of the periphery of which is smooth. By means of the teeth 86 the wheel 85 engages with a second toothed wheel 87. On the shaft 88 ofthe wheel 87 is a toothed wheel 89 which meshes with the toothed wheels 90 mounted on the shafts of the rollers 61. The movement of the cutting device 72, 73, is started by means of a toothed wheel 91, having a part 92 of its periphery without teeth, similar to the wheel 85: By means of its teeth, the wheel 91 enters into engagement with the toothed wheel 93 on the shaft 76 thereby providing for vertical reciprocation of the cutting device 72, 73, through the medium of the eccentric 75 and in a manner which will be hereinafter described. In order to adjust the prong feeding device 58, 59, so as to make it adaptable for varying lengths of stamps, steps 94 are provided which are adjustably arranged in the housing 57 and each of which acts on a lever 59. By means of a spiral 95, the lever 59 is held in its normal position, that is to say, is pressed against the steps 94. of succession of the several'steps is analogous to those of the form shown in Figs. l to 4.

The various operations are, briefly as follows; The part of the strip which has been advanced is separated from the remaining part of the strip by means of the cutting device. When the cuttingjdevice is thrown out-of gear another portion of the strip is gripped by the The order feeding rollers and drawn forward, and simultaneously therewith the rollers convey the separated part to the receiver. After the rollers have stopped, the prong push-feed device operates to forward the strip which has been released by the rollers and place the strip in the exact position necessary for the next cutting. The mode of operation step by step'of the modification just described is as followsi When a coin is dropped the main shaft 82 is released and is in a posi on to be turned in the direction-of the arrow in Fig. 7 by means of a knob, a crank or the like, thereby starting the cutting device 72, 73. In the position of rest, the driving wheel 91 of the cutting device is in mesh with the intermediate wheel 93 and when the main shaft. 82 turned, the wheel 93 is, therefore, moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 14. The roller feeding device remains in the position of rest,v as shown in Fig. 13, the cut away portion of the driving wheel 85 being opposite the teeth of the wheel 87. The turning of the wheel 93 causes the shaft 76 and the eccentric 75 to turn in the direction of the arrow, thereby elevating the plate 72, with the cutter blade 73 and the part of the strip which has previously been moved forward is separated from the remaining part of the'strip. The strip is held to both sides of the place of, separation by the yielding prcsser rods 79. When the rods 79 move upwardly they pass through the guide way and impinge against the bottom 97 of the part of the housing, while the cutter blade 73 passes through the guide way and through the bottom 97. After the stamp has been severed the cutting device again descends on further movement of the toothed wheel 91 and when the cut away portion 92 of the wheel 91 reaches the teeth of the intermediate wheel 93, the cutting device is thrown out of gear. In the meantime the teeth 86 of the wheel 85, which normally do not engage withthe toothed wheel 87, have come into mesh with the wheel 87 which with the toothed wheels 89, 90 and the rolh-rs 61 is caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 11. The two roughened surfaces of the rollers (51 successively grip the separated stamp and the strip 66 which they feed forwardwhile the separated stamp is conveyed to the receiver 71. The toothed wheels 87 89 and 90 and the rollers 61 and 63 are now at rest owing to the cut away portion of the toothed wheel 85 having engaged the wheel 87. During the feeding operation of the rollers 61, 63, the prong pushing device 58, 59 is set in motion by the eccentric 83 and swung out in the direction of the arrow 0:. The prongs 58 whichengage with the perforations in the strip (36 therefore cause the strip of stamps G6 to be absolutely smoothly and tightly stretched out on the guideway 70 while the rollers 61, (33 are in operation. When the rollers have been brought out of gear the prong device 58, 59 returns to the position shown in Fig. 7 and engaging with the pu'foraiions it effects a forward push of the strip into the proper position necessary for the next cutting operation. Through adjustment of the stops 94 the distance of movement of the prongs can beregulated as desired. When it is desired to fill the apparatus the upper part of the housing is'elevated or swung into the position shown in Fig. 10, thereby exposing the guide way 70 and permitting the insertion of. a new strip.

It will be noticed that in the device as shown, Figs. 7 to 14, the feeding or transporting device, which cooperates with the prong feeding device, is subdivided in such a manner that the part which is located in advance of thc'separating device automatically effects the delivery of the separated stamp. A separate pushing or transporting device for the separated stamp is, therefore, arranged in advance of the feeding devices for the continuous strip, and as the separate device is independent of the strip to be fed, it is possible to let theadvanced part of the transport device cooperating with the prong feeding device enter into action at an carlicr moment so that the s( paratcd stamp has already bcen moved out of the way by the advanced transport device when the feeding devices behindthc separating device commence to operate. Through the prior delivery of the separated stamp, a special advantage is obtained in addition to the advantageous ccfiperation of two fceding devices, as the subsequent travel of the continuous strip cannot be impeded by the separated stamp which has been gripped by the advanced transport device, and the next vending proceeding can, therefore, take place without hindrance. The two combined feeding devices can bring the strip with cereration and damage to the strips of stamps.

soon as the stamp has been transported a short. distance, I

When the advanced transport device only is in opera tion, care can be taken that disturbances do not take place by the separated stamp becoming jammed or stuck.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the prior delivery of the stamp can be effected by making the flattened portions of the second roller 61 behind the separating device, greater than the flattened portions of the first roller 61 in front of the separating device. When this is the case, the milled or roughened circumference of the first-named roller 61 will enter into engagement with the surmounting roller 63 at an earlier' moment than the circumference of the roller 61 behind the separating device, provided, of course, that the two pair of rollers have a common driving device. The arrangement may, of course, also be selected in such a manner that the part of the transporting device in advance oi the separating device has its own driving gear.

Inthe above-described embodiment of the apparatus, in which the yielding pushing device (prongs, rakes or latches) continuously presses and slides on the guideways for the stamps, it may happen that the.

prongs or the like become worn in the course of time or that the smooth surface of the guideway for thestamps becomes worn, thereby causing disturbance in the op- In order to avoid this drawback; an arrangement may be provided which will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, which show an embodiment of the vending apparatus similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The essential feature of this arrangement is that the part of the guideway for the stamps, on which the latches rest, is mounted to move up and down with the latches. By means of this arrangement the strip of stamps may be placed with its glue coated surface towards the latches thereby removing the possibility of the strip adhering to the guideway. The strip of stamps 3 is by means of a roller 46 continuously pressed against the guideway 3 which extends vertically and is cut away at 47. Below the cut away portion of the guideway the movable part 48 of the guideway is located. The latches 25 are rotatably arranged on a shaft 50 in the sides 48 and 48 of the part 48 and are held under pressure. by a spring 49. The movable part 48 of the guideway is connected with the driving mechanism in the known manner by means of guide-rods 51, 52. The stamp cutting device is in the main parts identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. As soon as the coin has been inserted and the driving mechanism has been set in motion in the customary manner, the knife 30 first cuts off the stamp which has previously been moved forward. Thereupon the cam disk 53 and the lever 54, elevate the guide-rods 51, 52,

the movable part 48 of the guideway secured to the guide-rods, and the latches 25, a pin 55 on the lever 54 sliding along the cam disk 55. The strip of stamps remains stationary and the latches move rearwardly a little beyond the next succeeding perforation in the 1 the position of rest.

strips. When the pin 55 of the lever 54 has passed beyond the point a: of the cam disk 53 the pin runs down the cam disk and the guide-rods 51, 52 therefore move downwardly to the stops 56. The movable part 48 of the guide-way and the latches 24 and strip are consequently also moved downwardly thereby preventing the latches sliding along the guideway. Through this movement, the strip 3 is fed forward a distance corresponding to the length of one stamp and the perforation between the stamp to be cut off and the succeeding stamp is brought exactly under the knife 36 by which it is cut off when the apparatus is again set in motion in the aforesaid manner. I

The details of the invention may, of course, be changed in various ways. The mode of bringing the feed rollers into and out of operation at a predetermined time as shown in Figs. 7 to 14, may be effected by means of eccentric-action in such a manner that the upper pressure rollers of the roller feeding device are moved towards and from the lower rollers. In such instance flattened portions would not be used on one pair of rollers. The latch feed can take place at any suitable time, either at the start of the vending proceeding or after such proceeding has taken place. The latches may be arranged at will either in front of or behind the other feeding device. The roller feed may be replaced by another transport-device which accomplishes the same purpose. Instead of the illustrated device of falling latches or prongs any other push device consisting of prongs or rakes may be used, which engages with the perforations or slots in the strips of stamps. Furthermore the arrangement may be selected in such a manner that the feeding paths of both feeding devices entirely or partly coincide, so that during the roller feed an additional movement is imparted to the strip by the prongs. The gear-wheels or the cut away portion may be selected in such a manner that during one revolution of the main shaft several stamps or strip portions are delivered or that the same apparatus can be used for strips having varying lengths of strip portions. This can-also be accomplished by substituting gearswith different ratio of transmission for the meshing driving wheels, as shown in the double Fig. 13. In such case, it is merely necessary to substitute for the gears such gears that have a ratio of transmission corresponding to the amount of movement which it is desired to impart to the strip of stamps. If it is desired to obtain delivery of a long strip containing several stamps with the apparatus shown in Figs. 7 to 14, the strips would, in tlie position of rest of the apparatus, project outside of the guide channel and into the receiver. In order to avoid this, only about one stamp of the portion to be cut off must be projected or feedoutwardly in the position of rest and not until the apparatus is started the entire feed of the strip portion to be sold would then take place and the strip would be separated, whereupon the separated portion is pushed into the receiver and the first mark or only a part of the next section is fed outwardly. In order that the remaining part can be transported immediately on startingthe vending proceeding it is necessary that one of the feeding devices, such as the rollers, are in their operative position when the apparatus is in At any rate it is essential that two feeding devices are arranged adjacent to one another and cooperate and regulate the action of, one another.

is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of feeding rollers adapted to draw a strip of material towards a predetermined point, a second feeding device adapted to push said strip of material towards a predetermined point and cutting mechanism located at said predetermined point for severing a portion of said strip. I I,

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, cutting mechanism mounted therein, a pair of feed rolls journaled in said casing and a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to feed material to said cutting mechanism.

3. In a device of the character described, the combina tion of a guideway, a plurality of feed rolls and a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to feed material through said guideway, and means for severing a portion of said material at a predetermined point.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, cutting mechanism mounted therein, a guideway, a plurality of feed rolls and a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to feed material through said guideway, and means for operating said cutting mechanism at a predetermined point.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, a guideway provided with a raised central portion, a plurality of feed rollers adapted to feed a strip of material through said guideway, a'plurality of feeding fingers and means for severing a portion of said strip at a predetermined point.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, a guideway provided with a raised central portion mounted in said casing, a plurality of feeding rollersadapted to feed material through said guideway and a plurality of feeding fingers adapted to feed said material a predetermined distance.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, a guideway provided with a raised central portion secured within said casing, a plurality of feeding rollers adapted to feed material through said guideway, a plurality of cam-actuated feeding fingers adapted to feed said material a predetermined distance and cam-actuated means for severing a portion of said material.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, .i-guideway secured within said casing and provided with a raised central portion, a shaft journaled in' said casing, an operating handle loosely mounted thereon, means for coupling said handle to said shaft, a plurality of feed rollers, means actuated by said shaft for operating said rollers, a plurality of cam-actuated feeding fingers adapted to feed a strip of material a predetermined distance through said guideway and'cutting means for severing a portion of said strip.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of 'a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said casing, an operating handle loosely mounted on said shaft, means for coupling said handle to said shaft, a plurality of feed rollers, means actuated by said shaft for operating said feed rollers, aguideway provided with a raised central portion, a lever actuated by said shaft and a plurality of feeding fingers actuated by said lever.

10. In a machine of the character described, the com-' bination of a framework, a casing mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said casing, an operating handle loosely mounted on said shaft, means for coupling said handle to I said shaft, a plurality of feed rollers adapted to feed a strip of material, means for guiding the movement of said strip, means actuated by said shaft for operating said said strip a predetermined distance and means for severing a portion of said strip of material.

11.. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, a plurality of feed rolls and a plurality of feeding fingers mounted in said casing and adapted to feed a strip of material, means for guiding the movement of said strip of material and means for severing a portion of said strip at a predetermined point.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting framework, a casing mounted thereon, cam-actuated feed rolls and aplurality of feeding fingers mounted in said casing and adapted to feed a strip of material, means for guiding the movement of said material and cam-actuated cutting mechanism for severing a portion of said strip of material.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a plurality of feed rolls and a plurality of feeding fingers mounted therein, means for guiding the movement of the material fed by said feed rolls and feeding fingers and cam-actuated cutting mechanism adapted to operate at a predetermined point.

1-1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a shaft'journaled therein, an operating handle loosely mounted on said shaft, means for coupling said handle to said shaft, a plurality of feeding fingers, a lever actuated by said shaft and cutting mechanism actuated by said lever.

OSCAR OEHRING.

Witnesses:

'Wonnmma HAUPT,

HENRY HASPER. 

